NH's new senator stops by biodiesel refinery on Nashua visit

January 27, 2009

NASHUA - Three weeks on the job now, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she
recognizes both the excitement of a new presidential administration and the
apprehension of an economic crisis.

The freshman Democrat on Monday
stressed the importance of passing an economic recovery package that she said
will create jobs and forward alternative energy solutions - echoing the call of
President Barack Obama.

Shaheen attended Obama's inauguration and found
it amazing "to see 2 million people excited about change," she said.

But
"it's also daunting as we think about the many problems facing the country," she
added.

Shaheen spoke after touring Batchelder Biodiesel Refinery, her
first official visit to Nashua after being sworn in as senator Jan. 6.

Afterward, she was flying back to Washington, where the Senate
reconvened Monday afternoon after a weekend break.

As the White House has
proposed, Shaheen said a recovery bill should include initiatives that couple
energy reform and job creation, including the weatherization of 2.5 million
homes.

Expanding broadband Internet access will also boost the economy,
Shaheen said. In New Hampshire, that would mean pushing broadband to the western
and northern parts of the state, she said. "You can't attract a lot of
businesses and can't hope they'll be efficient without high-speed Internet
access," she said.

Another goal of a stimulus package is to push money
into the economy, Shaheen said. Tax cuts would help get money flowing, she
said.

Asked if she would keep a watchful eye to block pork barrel
projects from the recovery bill, Shaheen said Obama has made it clear he won't
sign a bill that includes earmarks.

"We want to put money into existing
programs that can get right at problems so we don't need new programs to
distribute these funds," she said.

Shaheen defeated Republican incumbent
John Sununu in a rematch of their 2002 election fight.

The first bill she
submitted in the Senate is the Health Equity Act of 2009. The bill would require
Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that every state has a full-service
veterans' hospital.

The measure is aimed at New Hampshire, the only state
that doesn't offer a full-service veterans hospital or access to equivalent
care, Shaheen said.

New Hampshire's senior senator, Republican Judd
Gregg, co-sponsored the legislation, and a similar proposal was introduced in
the House by Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.

Shaheen said she met
Monday with Gregg, Hodes, Shea-Porter and Gov. John Lynch to discuss the
economic recovery bill and see how they can work together to benefit the
state.